A person experiencing Happy Heart Panic at a concert, for example, won’t say, “I’m too happy.” They will say, “I think I’m having a medical emergency. Get me out.” To illustrate, consider “Sarah” (a composite of many therapy clients). Sarah had worked for years to overcome social anxiety. She met a kind partner, planned a small wedding, and felt ready. At the reception, during her first dance, the DJ played her favorite song. Looking into her husband’s eyes, she felt a wave of pure, untainted joy.
Try a radical shift. The next time you feel joy, invite the panic. Say, “Okay, panic. Show up if you want. I’m going to keep dancing anyway. I’m going to keep laughing anyway. You can be a passenger in this car, but I’m still driving.” * happy heart panic
But that firewall can be dismantled. Brick by brick. Laugh by laugh. Party by party. A person experiencing Happy Heart Panic at a
| Condition | Trigger | Core Problem | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Stress, caffeine, specific phobias, or seemingly nothing | Fear of the panic attack itself | | Happy Heart Panic | Positive life events, excitement, joy | Misinterpretation of high arousal as danger | | Post-Event Rumination (Depression) | After a good event | Belief that the event wasn’t real or won’t last | | Imposter Syndrome | Achievements (promotion, award) | Fear of being exposed as a fraud | She met a kind partner, planned a small
Within ten seconds, her heart was slamming against her ribs. She felt dizzy. A voice said, “This is too perfect. You don’t deserve this. You’re going to ruin this dance.” Sarah stopped dancing, whispered, “I feel sick,” and fled to the restroom, where she sobbed in a stall for twenty minutes.
It is the cruel paradox of feeling your heart race with excitement, only for your brain to mislabel that racing heart as a sign of a heart attack or impending doom.
Start small. Watch that funny video and let your heart race. Go to the coffee shop and let the happiness buzz. And if the panic comes? Let it come. Smile at it. Say, “Hello, old habit. I’m busy being happy now.” *